When it comes to opinions on childbirth opinions are strong. Opinions vary. Judgement runs rampant. I hate to say it, but I'm a part of it. After I obtained a masters in counseling psychology I received two specialties. One in adolescent and child counseling and on in infant/parent attachment therapy. My career as an infant parent attachment therapist helped shaped many opinions I never thought I would have. Most of my clients were families who received too many medical interventions and drugs during the birth process. Some of these clients had no choice but to lose a loved one or have these procedures. For several others, it was a choice. As I studied the neuropsychology of what happens in the brain during birth I was astounded by how amazing God is. How he gave us natural hormones to combat the pain that are not released if we take synthetic drugs. I learned how these hormones affect attachment, and decrease postpartum depression.
Therefore, I often sit and bite my tongue as not to offend friends or family members. After all they are not clients seeking advice. As they tell me about doctors willing to induce and have C-sections early so they have less stretch marks, or the drugs they will take because they hate pain I wince inside. 30% of the birth is our country are C-sections. The highest of all industrial countries and yet we have the highest mortality rate.
If you are induced it leads to side effects and these side effects have to be treated and one intervention leads to several more. In today's society many people do support essential oils and natural methods, but most people scoff. I was nervous to become pregnant. Nervous I wouldn't find a provider in the rural area where I now live who supports a natural birthing process. I shopped around for providers before we even tried to conceive. I found a pair of midwifes who fully support me trying a no IV, no electric monitoring, using essential oils natural birth where I choose the position. I found a doula to partner with my husband and I. I feel incredibly supported. Yesterday at the 10 week check up my husband and I expected a 30-45 minute appointment like a typical doctor's visit. We knew most of our appointments with our midwives ran 45-60 minutes but that is when we were trying to conceive. Two hours she set aside for us. Answering questions, sharing stories, developing a relationship and as they said the best thing they can do is make sure we are comfortable and trust them as our providers.
Last year I listened to a family member talk about their provider saying they would give them whatever drugs they wanted, plan a C-sections if they wanted, go ahead dye your hair, live on twinkles etc. I also heard them say we would like a doula, but are scared to ask our doctor, offend him and lose him. I bit my tongue so hard until I was in the car when it unleashed on my husband. They didn't even feel safe enough to tell their doctor their wishes. How is that healthy? And naturally with all of the chemicals she had a difficult time attaching to the child, feeling resentful and depressed needing more medication after the birth to feel okay. Now I realize postpartum happens to women who birth naturally too, but the studies show receiving medication doubles your likelihood of being affected by postpartum depression. But medical professionals don't care, because if you are depressed later their is another pill for that. So one fix leads to needing another fix. They keep us happy in the moment, not healthy long term.
So now As I talk about searching for chemical free disposable diapers that my child can use at the daycare I have found and like, I see eyes rolls. But the more I learn about chemicals the less I want them in my or my future child's system. As I talk about how my doctor is willing to use essential oils to massage them on my uterus some on the tummy and some inside to reduce tearing I am excited to have found someone to support me in this and I see people look away and bite their own tongues. As I talk about how I'm excited that I get to drink juice boxes and eat crackers during birth to keep up my strength (Like most women in other countries) I get but you'll get sick or what if you need a c-section. But the chances of throwing up due to receiving anesthetic are slim to none, where as women who eat during birth and labor typically have a labor 60 minutes shorter than the average woman. They also report less pain. And I receive my information from medical journals not from baby community or what to expect when expecting.
I guess being natural is backwards in today's society. I'm scared but excited for this next step in my journey. A natural birth. Nothing gets more primitive than that. I am a wimp and I hate pain. My doula and midwife have assured me they have seen many wimps who hate pain make it through a natural childbirth and they will be there to support me and my husband who will hate seeing me in pain. We both agree that the benefits of a natural birth are worth me feeling this pain, but it doesn't mean it will be easy. And as much as I prepare, read, and do the prenatal yoga that is suppose to build up strength for labor the small fear is still there. Because of this fear I understand women turning to modern medical practices, but I still don't see it as right.
I guess what bothers me, isn't drugs or medicine, but human's deciding they always know better than God. He created us with natural hormones to help us have children. Yes, less women die now that their are interventions. However, now interventions are used when they aren't needed. And then it is interfering with how God designed our bodies to naturally release hormones to reduce pain, increase love, increase attachment, decrease depression in new moms and babies. And God calls us to be courageous people. He never says to choose the easy path. I know that these may seem taken out of context of scripture, but I still think about it. When did taking the easy way become so acceptable. When did giving into fear instead of standing tall and being brave become the everyday for people in this nation. I have my scriptures ready to meditate on during labor. Bible verses to remind me where my strength comes from. Bible verses that remind me not to fear, but to trust. Because the most backwards part of all of this is that I'm relying on God and how he created me and I'm being brave and trusting in that.
No comments:
Post a Comment